Improved process for saturating wood, cloth, paper



F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STUART GWYNN, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y., ASSIGNOR TO ALFRED B. ELY, 'OF- NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED PROCESS FOR SATURATING WOOD, CLOTH, PAPER,&c., WITH PARAFFINE.

Specification formingpart of. Letters Patent No.52,7S, dated February 20, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that LSTUART GWYNN, of New' York, in the county of New York and State of flew York, have invented or discovered a new and useful Impro'vement'in the Use of Paraffii i eviz.,in Saturatin'g or Im'pregnatin g therewith Paper, Gloth,'W o'od,- and other Proper.

Porous Substances; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the application and operation oi -the'same.

I ,The nature of my invention or discovery consists in the saturation or impregnation of paper, wood, andv other-porous substances with paraffine, by which they acquire great durability, toughness, and unchangeahility, and become in combination essentially new substanc'esin many of their qualities and charae' fills up all the cells and becomes incorporated with them so perfectly and thoroughly as to become essentially inseparable from thenr, and

to impart to them many of its own'peculiar qualities. It is insoluble in acids, alkalies, or gases, and' 'is unaffected by the action of the elements. Substauces'saturatedwith paraffinie not only acquire in great measure insolu; bility in acids, alkal ies, and gases, but greatlyincreasedv tenacity, toughness, power of en+ durance and of resistance to the action of the elements.

Paper satuated with paraffine becomes much harder, toughen-andfirnier, and assumes much the appearance of A parchment, with an unc tuous but not greasy surface.- In this state it will not only resist thefactionof water, but of strong acids, without perceptible effect; and so great is the repellent powerof this substance tomoisture that, although paper or cloth saturated with it be pierced with small holes, as pin-holes, water will'not pass through.

Soft wood'tr 'ated with paraffiriebecomes harder and den or and almost indestructible. When saturated and subjected to pressure I have no' doubt it would acquire a character that would'eminently fit it for the tool of the engraver. I

Saturated paper will answer every purpose .in many cases where oiled or paintedcloths are now used, and saturated cloths will equally take the place of leather,- and canvas when prepared will be unaffected by mildews: --...;The

uses of both paper and cloth, wherewentila tion is desired in connection with the exclusionof moisture, will be manifold. The softer woods .will, for many purposes, supplant the use of harderkinds.

For my purposes the pa'ra'fline must be used at a considerably high temperature, and or-- dinarilythe articles to be saturated may be first wet, asthentheheated 'paraffine will more readily enter the-pores from which the water is expelled. When the paraftine' is thus combined with the substances they seem together to form a new substance, inasmuch as it cannot be again'expelled. 'It cannotbe very I well used in connection with animal s ub stances, as the heat will be likely to act deleteriously. I v

'For merely coating substances I do not desite to use it, but my aim is essentially to sat. urate the material with it when it'is melted and raised to'a' high degree'of heat.

I am aware that paraffine' has been used in an imperfect manner and condition for cart-ridge-paper, and although" my discovery dates prior to 1864, I do not purpose; but

I claim v I 1. The use of paraflinamelted andheated to a high degree, 'for saturatingcloth and wood, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as described. I I

2. Its use forsaturating paper when it is to be used for roofing and other similar outside covering, and, for ,lining'sfor boxes and such like, when durability, im perviousness to moist-' 'ure,.and resistance'to the action of acids and the elements .are desired, asalso for linings for hats, shoes, garments, and other articles of fibrous materials.

sruAnr 'GWYNN. Witnesses :S. N. 'Smnunn, Wm

new claim it for that 

